Outfielder Andruw Jones tentatively agreed Wednesday to a two-year, $36.2-million US contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Atlanta Braves severed ties Oct. 2 with the perennial Gold Glover, who understood they could no longer afford him.
Andruw Jones had spent his entire 12-year MLB career with Atlanta.
(Alan Diaz/Associated Press)
Enter the Dodgers, who offered him the fifth-highest average salary in the major leagues.
Jones, 30, will make $9 million US next season and $15 million US in 2009.
He will receive a signing bonus fo $12.2 million US, of which $5.1 million US is payable in 2008, $2.1 million in 2009 and $5 million US in 2010, and a no-trade clause.
"Being on a competitive team was a very, very important part of his process," said agent Scott Boras, who represents Jones.
Jones, one of the top sluggers in the major leagues the previous two seasons, hit only .222 with 26 home runs, 94 runs batted in and 83 runs scored in 154 games this season, one in which he was paid a whopping $13.5 million US.
He combined to hit 92 homers and drive in 257 runs in 2005 and 2006.
Jones is a .263 hitter overall with 368 HRs, 1,117 RBIs and 1,045 runs in 1,761 games since making his MLB debut with Atlanta on Aug. 15, 1996.
He has won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence.
With files from the Associated Press
